Since its inception in 1945, there has been one and only expansion of the Security Council in 1965 by increasing non-permanent members from 6 to 10. The increase was made in response to the expansion of the UN membership from 51 in 1945 to 118 in 1963 when the General Assembly decided to expand the non-permanent seats which was followed by the ratification of the UN Charter amendments in 1965. With the adoption of GA resolution 48/62 in 1992, the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the SC has been continuously discussed first under the Open-Ended Working Group from 1994 to 2008 and thereafter under the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) from 2009.

In accordance with the General Assembly decision 62/557 adopted in 2008, the IGN has been mandated to discuss five key areas for the reform of the Security Council: 1) categories of membership, 2) question of the veto, 3) regional representation, and 4) size of an enlarged Security Council and working methods of the Council and 5) relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council. While there is no objection to the expansion of the non-permanent members, there has been an entrenched disagreement on the expansion of permanent members. With no agreement on this issue, all other issues, including those that appear to have gained wide support such as the expansion of non-permanent members, have been held back.

To break the deadlock on this contentious issue, Thailand made a proposal at the General Assembly annual debate on 12 November 2014 and reiterated such proposal at the 1^st Meeting of the IGN during UNGA69 on 11 February 2015 for the introduction of an interim category of membership whereby aspiring permanent members would have the opportunity to serve the Council, based on conditions and criteria to be established, and to be able to immediately stand for re-election for a second term and if re-elected, a review could be conducted during or following the second term on the possible expansion of permanent members. It must also be evident that the enlarged Council can function more efficiently and effectively with a certain number of potential permanent members. 

Thailand is firmly committed to the realization of the reform in order to bring the Security Council in line with the present-day reality. It is important to note that there are nearly one-third of the member states that have never had a chance to serve in the Council, the expansion of non-permanent members should therefore be given a top priority. Thailand will continue to actively engage in the IGN and looks forward to working with other member states to push through the much-needed reform of the Security Council. 

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